Stop being a zombie – Sleep your way to success
March 13 is World Sleep Day, but it's funny-why do we need a day to remind us to sleep? It's something so basic, we've been doing it since forever!
But here we are, with Gen Z, perpetually sleep-deprived convinced that sleep is not a priority but more of a choice. Between academic pressure, endless scrolling, and trying to outdo everyone else, sleep is always last on our priority list, if at all it is there.
We're supposed to get about 8-10 hours of sleep a night, but most Gen Z-ers, are probably surviving on 4 or 5 hours — or sometimes, even less. They might imagine that they are managing well, but the reality is far from that.
So, what's causing this? Digital distractions. "I'll just check the last notification." Fast-forward an hour and you are still in the hyper real world of memes, influencer drama, online games and random YouTube videos. Phones don't just consume your time; they steal your ability to sleep and rewire, reorganize and repair your brain after a long day.
Teenage girl addicted to internet in bed late at night checking her smartphone, EPS 8 vector illustration
And then there is academic pressure. Many students think that less sleep equals more study time, and that skipping sleep is somehow a mark of being dedicated. But no - you're not just sleep deprived, you're also wasting your time. Sleep is when your brain does some serious mental restructuring- organising memories, processing information and figuring out what you actually need to remember.
The list of culprits is not yet over. Anxiety plays partner in crime. Finally, as your phone's battery exhausts and you are not left with no other choice but putting your phone down and pushing that important work assignment to tomorrow, that nagging voice in your head starts asking never ending count of 'what if?' questions that feeds your mind with worries, until you're stuck in a spiral of anxiety. The more you think, the harder it becomes to sleep, which only makes your stress worse, creating a vicious cycle. Result - physical, mental and emotional exhaustion, leaving you feeling drained and looking tired the next day as well.
So, fact check. Sleep deprivation hits harder than bad Wi-Fi. Memory and concentration fades away, there is poor emotional control, and immune system goes on a strike making one more vulnerable to infections and diseases. The adolescent brain is still developing, particularly the prefrontal cortex- the region responsible for decision-making, problem solving and analytical thinking. Sleep, for this age group particularly, is neurological fuel that makes them smarter, happier, and emotionally stable.
So, next time you're tempted to stay up late, ask yourself: Are you sacrificing sleep to succeed and to be cool - or are you sacrificing success and personal style by not sleeping?
The writer is a Psychology Educator at Yadavindra Public School, Mohali
